fort and seclusion. Reading, talking, building castles which reached
into the heavens, these two basked in the warm light of a perfect love.
After a little buffeting about in worldly storms, two hearts had come to
rest; and how penetratingly sweet was that serene peace of soul. In him
she saw her highest ideals realized, her fondest hopes and dreams come
true. In her he found the composite perfectness of woman. All his
visions from early youth to the present materialized in the sweet face,
gentle spirit and pure soul of Lucy Strong!

Chester, the day after Captain Brown had told him about the condition of
the ship, found Lucy in her room. She was not well, the father had
said, so Chester sought her out. She was reclining on the couch. His
heart, burdened with what he knew melted towards the girl. He drew a
stool up to her, and kissed his good-morning.

"Not so well today?" he asked.

"No; my heart has been troubling me all night; but I'm better now."

"Now, see here, my girl, I'm the one that ought to be ill."

"How's that?" she smiled at him.

"Have we not exchanged hearts?"

"Oh, I see. Yes; but the strength only went with mine. The weakness I
retained. It would not have been fair otherwise."

She sat up and pushed back her hair. He seated himself near her and drew
her in his arm. He held her close.

"Some things," said he, "we can not give, much as we would like. Some
burdens we must carry ourselves."

"Which I take it, is a very wise provision," she added.

There was silence after that. It was not easy for either of them to
talk, each being constrained with his own crowded thoughts. Chester
listened to the rhythmic beat of the machinery, and wondered vaguely how
long it would continue thus, and what would happen if it had to stop.

"Chester," said Lucy at last, "what if I should die?" She clung to him
as she said it.

"But, my dear, you're not going to die. You're going to get completely
well again--You're going to stay with me, you know."

"That's the worst, when I think of it--the thought of separating from
you--O Chester, I can't do that--All my life I've waited and watched for
you, and now to leave you, to lose you again--and we've been together
such a short time! I can't bear to think of it." The tears welled in her
eyes.

"Then, my sweetheart mustn't think of it. We are going to be together,
we two. 'Whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will
lodge ... where thou diest will